Yemisi Izuora
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has said that expansion in solar power has significantly helped offset increase in global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.
The Agency disclosed that advanced economies contributes more to the emissions through it rose at a slower pace in 2025.
Despite the growth of renewables, the IEA said emissions in advanced economies rose by 0.5 per cent outpacing the 0.3 per cent increase recorded in emerging and developing economies for the first time since the 1990s.
The IEA attributed the increase largely to higher fossil fuel use during colder weather, particularly in the United States, where elevated gas prices led to increased reliance on coal-fired power.
In its Global Energy Review made public on Monday, it said emissions rose by 0.4 per cent in 2025 a slowdown compared to recent years driven largely by a surge in solar photovoltaic (PV) supply.
The IEA said global energy demand growth also eased to 1.3 percent in 2025, slightly below the previous decade’s average, amid weaker economic growth, milder temperatures in some regions, and improved energy efficiency.
However, electricity consumption continued to rise strongly, increasing by about 3 percent, which was more than double the pace of overall energy demand growth.
The report noted that solar PV was “the single largest contributor” to global energy supply growth for the first time, accounting for more than 25 per cent of the increase.
“Natural gas took the next largest share, at 17 per cent, reflecting its role in power generation in many countries,” the report said.
“Overall, renewable sources and nuclear met nearly 60 per cent of all growth in energy demand – and power generation from these sources exceeded total growth in electricity demand.”
Fatih Birol, IEA Executive Director (ED), said electricity consumption is growing much faster than overall energy demand.
“Global energy demand continued to increase in 2025 against a complex economic and geopolitical backdrop, with one trend unmistakable: the expanding electrification of economies,” Birol said.
“Solar PV accounted for over a quarter of all of the world’s energy demand growth – more than any other source, for the first time – followed right after by natural gas. In today’s rapidly shifting landscape, countries that prioritise resilience and diversification will be best placed to manage volatility and deliver secure and affordable energy in the years ahead.”
“Energy demand growth in the United States rose to its second-highest level this century – excluding post-recession recovery years – boosted by strong electricity demand from data centres, robust industrial activity and also colder winter temperatures,” IEA said.
By contrast, the agency said China recorded a decline in emissions in 2025, supported by a surge in renewable energy deployment and efficiency gains.
India’s emissions remained flat for the first time since the 1970s outside pandemic conditions, aided by a strong monsoon season and increased clean energy generation.
“In the electricity sector, the additional 600 terawatt-hours of solar PV generation worldwide in 2025 marked the largest structural increase ever recorded in a single year for any electricity generation technology, contributing to a decline in coal-fired electricity generation globally,” the report said.
“Battery storage was the fastest-growing power sector technology in 2025.
“The roughly 110 gigawatts of new battery storage capacity added during the year exceeded the largest-ever annual capacity additions for natural gas.
“Meanwhile over 12 gigawatts of nuclear power reactors began construction in 2025, amid renewed momentum for nuclear projects in several regions.”
The IEA added that cumulative deployment of low-emission technologies since 2019 now avoids fossil fuel consumption equivalent to the entire energy demand of Latin America annually.
It said countries that prioritise energy diversification and resilience would be better positioned to manage volatility and ensure long-term energy security